SAWS issues level 5 warning for Gauteng

The SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued an orange level 5 weather warning for Gauteng on Friday.

This comes after the province experienced heavy rain and thundershowers this week.

The showers and thundershowers are expected to continue over the weekend, and this may cause flooding, SAWS warned.

SAWS spokesperson Luthando Masinini said the severe thunderstorms will only last for two days, namely Friday and Saturday.

“From Sunday there will only be a 30% chance of rainfall and minimal rainfall from Monday,” said Masinini.

The weather conditions have caused some rivers in Gauteng to overflow.

These rainfalls are expected to cause the flooding of roads and settlements, and disruption of traffic flow.

Earlier on Thursday, Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said one person was swept away by the Apies River on Thursday afternoon and another the Friday before.

“On Thursday afternoon, we received a call that some people were swept away by the Apies River. Upon arrival on the scene, the emergency services were told that some had managed to escape but one was still missing.

The search continued until late Thursday evening when the search was then called off due to poor visibility and high waters. The emergency services will join the police, who will lead the search today, to continue the search,” Mabaso said.

Various roads were closed around Centurion due to flooding, including Blackwood Road, Rabie and End streets.

Mabaso called on motorists to exercise caution as already two vehicles were trapped in water on Lyttelton Road.

“Avoid crossing low-lying water bridges, instead find an alternative.”

ALSO READ:Three Cholera cases confirmed in Gauteng

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram